I was researching online: http://www.powwows.com/gathering/general/469-true-origin-thanksgiving.html

The first settlers were dying from disease and enslaved Squanto. He taught them how to work the land (grow corn and catch fish). He also helped them create a peace treaty with a nearby tribe Wampanoag. In celebration of having their crops produce they had a feast mostly a brew of ale,but that was never called Thanksgiving.

Here is how Thanksgiving got its "official" title: (all documented by government records)

Basically the Puritans thought they were the chosen people and mass murdered hundreds of Natives. They gave thanks to God and celebrated. Here is an account from an article:

In the midst of the Holocaust/Genocide of the Red Man and woman, Governor Dudley declared in 1704 a "General Thanksgiving" not to celebrate the brotherhood of man, but for:

[God's] infinite Goodness to extend His Favors... In defeating and disappointing.... the expeditions of the Enemy [Indians] against us, And the good Success given us against them, by delivering so many of them into our hands...

And as you are eating turkey and giving your praises to God, keep this image in your head

"To see them frying in the fire, and the streams of their blood quenching the same, and the stench was horrible, but the victory seemed a sweet sacrifice to the great delight of the Pilgrims, and they gave praise thereof to God."

Friday, November 21, 2008

Thursday, November 20, 2008

So my boss just got back from the Phillipines. While he was there he attended church and made some friends at church. What he didn't realize, is that men hold hands in the Phils. So imagine if you will a middle aged man walking hand in hand with various men, feeling slightly strange, and talking to them about who knows what. It gives me a good chuckle.

Heather, Jaxon, Bria and I were playing the entertaining and fun card game, Go Fish. Jaxon didn't come out on top for the last game of the night and was really upset to the point of tears. He just wanted to play one more game so he could win, but it was bedtime. I completely understand because I will play solitare for however long it takes to win. Anyway, Heather gave him the "you win some and lose some, but its still fun" talk. I thought it was settled- then came night time prayers. Here is Jaxon's prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

thank you for Go Fishplease bless that I can get all the matchesplease bless I can winand if I don't win, bless that we can play againand if I still don't win, I will go in my room and play by myselfname of Jesus Christ, Amen

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

I woke up this morning feeling like my senses were heightened. I could hear things more clearly and the air smelled differently to me. I was more aware of everything around me. There is something special about today, I thought. Then I called my sister because 'I knew' she would be coming this way and I wanted to see her while she was in town. We went to Target and she reminded me that two years ago today my Grandma Joan passed away.

Two years ago today I went to a Chakra class in the morning and in the afternoon I went to Dancing Cranes with my mom. I checked my phone in the parking lot of Dancing Cranes. I had about 15 missed calls and finally my dad left a vm telling me the sad news. Sorry to sound cliche, but I was in the parking lot looking up at the world spinning and I was standing still- like in the movies. That really happens. So, in memory of Grandma Joan here is Winnie the Pooh because she loved him....and because she sort of looked like him toward the end of her life.

"If there ever comes a day when we can't be together keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever" -Winnie the Pooh

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

8 favorite shows-Arrested Development-The Office-Psych-30 Rock-Scrubs (never watched the last season because it got sort of lamo)-A man among wolves (only seen one episode last week and thought it was pretty cool)-Golden Girls-Flight of the Conchords

8 things I did today-watched Half Alive on youtube-gave a massage-at midnight I started John Adams part one (HBO series)-clipped my fingernails-talked to my mom-had a dance party with myself in my office-caught the neighbors using our outside power outlet (okay that was yesterday)-bird watching mostly seagulls

8 things I wish for-become independently wealthy so I can feed the poor and cloth the naked and some other stuff...-meet and marry Ray Lamontagne-travel to all seven continents-superpowers specifically invisibility, time travel, to fly, and breathe underwater-flourishing business The Peaceful You (look for it and don't try to steal my biz name)-longer days and less responsibility-longer and thicker eyelashes-see energy

8 things I look forward to-Everything in my previous list coming true. Everything in its own time :)

Monday, November 10, 2008

I have a new obsession, Ray Lamontagne. I would like to share my new favorite song Half Alive. It is unreleased so I had no other way to share, but through youtube. Thank you, youtube. This is a live version so its not the best recording. Also for clarification, I don't like the video- just the song. So maybe don't look at the video because it might affect your ability to like the song. And I thought I could just have it playing, but I am not that savvy yet, but here it is anyway: Half Alive

Thursday, November 6, 2008

As requested, and because I want to share, here is my senior year presidential election tragedy. It all started in the 11th grade. I remembernot campaigning much because I had two AP classes that were killing me and I also thought that I could dominate my component. Bad start, I know. I was already on student council too- which meant that I had all sorts of ins and was used totaking short cuts to get my way. It gets better. So as the votes were being tallied, Coach I. (the st. council teacher) said that one person that she thought was going to win was getting smoked big time. The final tallies were being announced at the stomp that night. I wasn't stressing out really, I sort thought it was someone else who was losing, but then people started being nicer to me- so I had to find out who Coach I. was talking about. Needless to say, I got my way and found out ahead of time. Even still, when the winners were announced I couldn't stay and look at people in the eyes. I felt so sad and mostly ashamed at my behavior. I left the stomp early. Poor Lika (my foreign exchange student) came home with me so I could pout.My senior had more travesties: I didn't make the tennis team, so I became the self appointed tennis manager. I didn't get asked to Homecoming. Instead, I went to get a concert with one of my friend's mom. I applied to be the Debate/Drama sterling scholar (I was the only applicant) and they asked one of my friends to be it instead. Not to worry, I was the Family and Consumer Sciences sterling scholar. Last big bite, I was president of the Key club and I was told by the organizer that the scholarship was "pretty much mine" and then it was not awarded to me. Never tell someone that something is "pretty much theirs" if it isn't:( All in all, it was a hard year for me,but things worked out- just as they do now.

By the way: don't the images give it such a dramatic flare? Also, the words in blue are the secrets of great leaders- so keep it on the low down.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Good news, Starbucks came through, I got a free drink yesterday for voting. The good news doesn't stop there, we had an election party last night with hot chocolate, popcorn, and CNN. I am confident, calm, and hopeful with the results of the election. Both McCain and Obama reacted respectfully toward each other and toward the results of the election. I enjoyed each speech- more than I expected I would. Links to Obama's speech and McCain's speech. My heart feels for McCain. Flashback: I lost the presidency election senior year and had to leave the stomp because I didn't want to look anyone in the face. Not one of my prouder moments:(